The risks posed by button and coin batteries
Button and coin batteries can pose a severe health risk, particularly to children and pets, if inserted, swallowed or ingested. Although a child may not choke if they swallow a button or coin battery, the batteries can do serious internal damage. While any coin or button battery can pose a serious risk, coin batteries pose the most risk due to their larger size, which is typically greater or equal to 16mm in diameter. These batteries can react with saliva if lodged in the throat to create caustic soda, a chemical often used to unblock drains. This chemical reaction can burn and lead to internal bleeding, and possibly death. If a battery gets into the stomach, it can cause significant tissue damage.
There have been several recent child fatalities in the UK as a result of button or coin battery ingestion, including a two-year-old girl who died in May 2021 after swallowing batteries from a remote control. According to the Child Accident Prevention Trust, at least two children a year die as a result of swallowing lithium batteries in the UK.
Updated guidance below for businesses who manufacture, import, distribute or sell any products that use button (also known as non-lithium) or coin (also known as lithium) batteries. The type of products that use them include remote controls, car key fobs, bike lights, smaller toys, laser pointers and calculators. The guidance helps businesses understand the potential risks associated with these batteries and the actions they can take to mitigate them.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-button-and-coin-batteries
